Ali Quli Qarai, The Qur’ān with a Phrase-by-Phrase English Translation (2005)

42 Were it an accessible gain
or a short journey,
they would have surely followed you;
but the distance seemed too far to them.
Yet they will swear by Allah:
‘If we could,
we would have surely gone forth with you.’
They [merely] destroy themselves.
Allah knows that they are indeed liars.
43 May Allah excuse you!
Why did you grant them leave [to stay behind]
before those who told the truth were evident to you
and you had ascertained the liars?
44 Those who believe in Allah and the Last Day
do not ask you for leave [exempting them]
from waging jihād with their possessions
and their persons,
and Allah knows best the Godwary.
45 Only those seek a leave [of exemption] from you
who do not believe in Allah and the Last Day,
and whose hearts are in doubt,
so they waver in their doubt.
46 Had they desired to go forth,
they would have surely made some preparations for it;
but Allah was averse to arouse them,
so He held them back,
and it was said [to them],
‘Be seated with those who sit back.’
47 Had they gone forth with you,
they would have only added to your troubles,